Croydon homelessness service closure faces High Court challenge

On 7 July 2026, the High Court will hear an application for permission to bring a judicial review of Croydon council’s decision to close its walk-in homelessness service, Access Croydon, in March 2025.

The claim is brought by a vulnerable individual who wishes to remain anonymous, represented by the Public Interest Law Centre.

Since the closure of Access Croydon, local residents can only access homelessness information, advice or assistance via a system based on pre-booked appointments and an online self-service tool.

The Claimant is an individual who faced eviction. However, because of a learning disability, they were unable to access LB Croydon’s digital system independently. The Claimant argues that the council’s decision has seriously disadvantaged people who are digitally excluded or unable to use online services.

The Claimant’s case also argues that closing the walk-in service amounts to unlawful gatekeeping of homelessness assistance. It discriminates against vulnerable individuals who cannot access digital-only services, or who require urgent assistance that the current system fails to accommodate.

Legal grounds

The legal challenge argues that Croydon Council acted unlawfully for several reasons, including:

• It failed to meet its legal duties to homeless people. The council has a legal duty to provide accessible homelessness advice and support and to follow national guidance and its own homelessness strategy. The claim argues that closing the walk-in service breached those duties.
• It discriminated against people who cannot access digital services. The case argues that, by requiring people to apply online, the council has unfairly disadvantaged digitally excluded people. This includes those who cannot read or write or who have disabilities.
• Both the mayor and the chief executive of Croydon made the decision in a closed meeting without a written decision. Croydon acted outside of regulations set out for Local Authorities and of its own constitution.

Homelessness services a problem across London

The issues raised by this case extend well beyond Croydon. An investigation by Kings College London found that only three of London’s 33 boroughs continue to offer face to-face drop-in services for people experiencing homelessness.

The closure of walk-in services has significant consequences for many vulnerable groups. This includes people with learning or physical disabilities who cannot navigate online systems, rough sleepers without reliable internet access, and those who need immediate in-person advice.

It has also increased pressure on charities, frontline advice organisations, and libraries providing digital support. And, in some cases, hospitals end up supporting people unable to access housing services elsewhere.

Alexandra Goldenberg of the Public Interest Law Centre has instructed barristers to represent the Claimant. They are Tom Hickman KC of Blackstone Chambers and Jeremy Ogilvie-Harris of Cornerstone Barristers.

Goldenberg commented on the case:

In the middle of a housing crisis Croydon council has closed their walk-in services. These barriers risk creating discriminatory access to homelessness services, leaving many vulnerable people unable to obtain the support to which they so desperately need and are legally entitled.

This is not an isolated case as only three London councils now provide this level of access, which makes the outcome of this case even more significant.

Featured image via the Canary